The European Commission revealed on Wednesday that it has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, the regional aid maps covering the period 2007-2013 for Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.
These decisions form part of a wider exercise to review regional aid systems in all Member States in accordance with the new Regional Aid Guidelines adopted in December 2005.
A regional aid map defines the regions of a Member State eligible for national regional investment aid for large enterprises under EC Treaty state aid rules, and establishes the maximum permitted levels of such aid in the eligible regions.
The adoption of a regional aid map is a pre-condition to ensure the continuity of the regional policy and Structural Fund programmes as from January 2007, as the validity of all previous maps expired in December 2006.
The new guidelines aim at re-focussing regional aid on the most deprived regions of the enlarged EU, while improving competitiveness and providing for a smooth transition.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes explained that:
“The approved maps support our cohesion policy and contribute to the State Aid Action Plan’s objective of less and better targeted aid. Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania will now be able to implement their regional development strategies for 2007-2013.”
The newly approved regional aid maps confirm that the whole of Bulgaria is eligible for regional aid under Article 87(3)(a) at a maximum aid intensity of 50% for the whole period 2007-2013. This is also true for Romania, with the exception of the region of Bucharest, where the maximum aid intensity will be 40%.
With regard to Cyprus, the EC announced that areas housing 50% of the population of Cyprus remain eligible for regional aid under Article 87(3)(c) at a maximum aid intensity of 15% for the whole period 2007-2013.
Areas housing a further 15.88% of the population will be eligible for a transitional period of two years at a maximum aid intensity of 10%.
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